Hardcore will never die, but you will. New Mogwai album

On february 14.-15. 2011 the new Mogwai album Hardcore will never die, but you will is released. This is their first single Rano Pano

Rano Pano - Mogwai


In august 2010 they released a live film Burning directed by the by hyped Vincent Moon. And ... Vincent Moon is hyped for a reason.

I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead - Mogwai

Happy new year, 2010 is ending. What is the good song or video for ending times?

2010 is ending and new years eve is just a day away.

On a general scale I tend to follow Slovenian philosopher and cultural theorist Slavoj Žižek thoughts on western societies living in end times. I might be stretching it a bit if I use these thoughts as a metaphor for the celebration of new years eve and the music to go with it (if so, I'm preparing a celebration with quite a dystopian starting point).

On the other hand, ending is seldom definitive (set a side your own definitive ending by biological decomposition). Most of the time ending is setting new perspectives. And new perspectives are always (!) good. The new perspectives might be positive or negative, depending on the view point, but they are non the less new perspectives - ranging on a scale from radical creativity to revitalisation.

I'm not sure if I am killing the party not yet begun. So give us your perspective on the perfect song for ending times. It could be a good old classic or brand new - even avantgarde. I, or some one else, might play it tomorrow (or when we are getting fired from our jobs - you know, perspective)

New years eve or not, happy or not, here is a starting point to get your imagination crawling. But Happy New Year and let your party begin!

There is no ending - Arab Strap


Happy New Year - Abba


End times - Eels


It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine) R.E.M.


Every party has a winner and a loser - Erland Oye


There is an end - Ronnie Spector


The new year - Azure Ray


Dance me to the end of love - Leonard Cohen

The 20 Worst Songs of 2010

I don't wanna write to much about the 20 worst songs of 2010, because they already did @ the blog section on Village Voice. It's honestly brilliant. List-stuff on blogs usually just are links and no effort. This is not. This is ranting at its finest. You can agree or disagree on the compilation, but one thing is for certain. The Village Voice guy hates these songs.

I can only spoil that Train - Hey, Soul Sister is THE worst song of 2010. Why? Listen to it! Numerous of reasons. One of them: It's pretty much the whitest song to ever have the word "soul" in it, and that includes Death Cab's "Soul Meets Body. Another: Train, you owe us 20 seconds of our lives back, and we owe All-American Rejects a cut of our vast F2K10 riches. And the ukulele. The fuck?

Read the piece on Train and the other 19 worst songs. It's worth it. What are yours?

Lone Pigeons Time Capsule

We are some that deeply miss The Beta Band. But luckily members of The Beta Band have released things on their own or in new constellations (fx The Aliens). One Beta Band member, Mr Lone Pigeon, released quite a lot. And thankfully Domino Records made his complete recordings available in a box with the title Time Capsule. And what a capsule.



A bit of Beta Band


And Pictish Trail doing a Lone Pigeon cover

Azure Ray will be touring Europe and promoting new record

Dream pop duo Azure Ray have abandoned their retirement and released Drawing down the moon. And in the beginning of 2011 they will be touring Europe. Recommended.

Still the best Christmas song

Just so we don't forget those of you who isn't following us on Facebook yet. Please do. But here it is, the best Christmas song. Well, I think is.

Timber Timbre - Timber Timbre

This is an album nothing short of great! I wasn't released in Europe until 2010. So for that reason it is neither on our 2009 or our 2010 Best of year-list. But it should have been on the 2009-list! Definitely! But then again in 2009 I didn't know Timber Timbre. Luckily I do now. So while waiting for my order of the self titled album by Timber Timbre I'll be enjoying these few videos. You should do the same.

Merry Christmas part 1

Christmas-songs is maybe one of the worst genres around. But heres the first of my few favorites!

The Official Indie Laundry Top Ten Albums of the Year 2010!

Finally it´s here.

1. The National - High Violet
2. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
3. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
4. Beach House -Teen Dreams
5. The Black Keys – Brothers
6. Robyn – Body Talk Trilogy
7. David Karsten Daniels & Fight The Big Bull - I mean to live here still
8. Silver Columns - Yes And Dance
9. The Scottish Enlightenment - St. Thomas
10. Broken Bells - Broken Bells

All Indie Laundry bloggers had The National on their list as the only album appearing on all lists. We should also mention Gorillaz, John Grant and Sufjan Stevens as artists that came close to the top ten. Last mentioned didn't make it because both the album 'The Age of Antz' and the EP 'All Delighted People' was nominated. And finally it shoud be mentioned that Malcolm Middleton was nominated for at live album, which is rare (Live in Zürich / Long, dark night)!
So this is what we can agree on liking at Indie Laundry!!!




The last one must be the number one music video without discussion!

Our top 10 for 2010 is on the way, but...

The list you all have been waiting for the past year is on the way. Wuhuu. Yes, you're right, it is of course the Indie Laundry Best of 2010, which probably has left you excited out of your mind the last few weeks (sleepless, drinking to much, unable to work, eat and other things deemed to obscene to mention here). Or not. Maybe you're just thinking "the indie what" or "not again". Well, either way, it should be here soon. But until then you can - depending on your perspective - get yourself calmed or excited with these more or less qualified lists at Meta Critic. Among others seems Deerhunter to be popular on the "Meta Critic" lists.



But do you reckon Meta Critic told you a bit to few news. Then you should take a look at The Pop Cop. Here you're getting told otherwise. The on Indie Laundry aforementioned Endor clocks in at number 2. Number one in the perspective of The Pop Cop is Admiral Fallow:



Admiral Fallow | Myspace Music Videos

Flowers in December - Mazzy Star - retro moment

I had almost forgot Flowers in December by Mazzy Star. But once again listening to Beach House I couldn't resist to spin their gauzy forebears a couple of rounds. It's a nice track. So slow. The single is from Among My Swan from '96 and was featured in the movie Wicker Park. It's a tune from another time, but well worth a listen again.

The Scottish Enlightenment. St. Thomas

Wrote about The Scottish Enlightenment in May 2010 when they released their Pascal EP. Because I liked it. And because it grows on you (which actually means that I didn't like it in the beginning). As a friend said to me: "Thank you for buying me The Scottish Enlightenment. I'm slowly realising how brilliant they are".

In september 2010 they released Little Sleep EP. We totally ignored Little Sleep EP here on Indie Laundry. God knows why (well, he doesn't, but some might).

Now The Scottish Enlightenment have stepped up a notch and released the full lenght album St. Thomas. I haven't got the time to do an in-depth review today, which it actually deserves. Because it is one of the absolute best records of 2010 despite all its flaws and faults - or precisely because of these, as it hopefully makes The Scottish Enlightenment wanna do even more and better songs and records. I cannot give them anything but all my endorsements because I am continually realising how good they really are.

Indie Laundry is now on Facebook

The updating on this blog has been sparse, but now we are back. We think we are! And are available to you on Facebook as of today. Please 'Like Indie Laundry' on Facebook and get our suggestions, links and general state of the nation updates.

If you are very friendly you might even suggest this to your friends!

Have a nice day!
Us at the Indie Laundry office

Fránçois and the Atlas Mountains for a saturday.

This is just a little writing (as in tiny) about someone we might hear much more about. Because there are rumours about Fránçois Marry. Great ones (well, I think. You may not).

But until I get just the slightest bit of confirmation, I will let the rumours rest in speculations. So just enjoy these few videos and get the weekend startet.

He has been compared to all kinds things, some more obvious than others (for example "as a lo-fi boy version of Isobel Campbell at her most yé-yé" (?)), released quite a few records with The Atlas Mountains, been a touring member of Camera Obscura and lots more. And there is lots more to come, I think. So enjoy

It is just getting better - David Karsten Daniels & Fight The Big Bull

A year and half ago we at Indie Laundy were quite surprised. David Karsten Daniels seemed to be lacking fans - if FB can be seen as a parameter for that kind of measurement, which hopefully it cannot, 'cos he is still lacking fans on FB. But if he really is in the lack of fans outside FB, we are (still) utterly surprised!

So if anyone would like to change their mind or just haven't taken notice of this giftet musician, you now have the reason to do so. His recent album "I mean to live here still", made in collaboration with the nine piece jazz band Fight The Big Bull, were recently named one of 2010's genre-defying album by NPR. The other four on NPR's list - that makes the honour even more clear - includes Clogs, The Young Scamels, Laurie Anderson, Sarah Kirkland Snider.

Magnificient live record from Malcolm Middleton

Speaking of Arab Strap. Malcolm Middleton just released a double live album. One acoustic. One with a full band. Both recorded during 2009, but on separate tours. For that reason they are very different.

Especially the acoustic one blows my mind. It was recorded at Oran Mor in Glasgow on the last night of the Long, dark night-tour. It is no less than magnificent. It has a really really great sound. It might even be one of the greatest acoustic live recordings I've ever heard.

But don't be fooled, Zurich wasn't cheered down while I was listening to it. For example it seems like I've lost the ability to leave the repeat button alone on A brighter beat. So dive in and catch a listen until next year, when his new project Human Don't Be Angry sees the light of day - probably. It is highly recommended

New record from former Arab Strap singer Aidan Moffat (and Bill Wells)

Aidan Moffat got a Twitter-acount yesterday and promised to do philosophy and self promotion soon. Today you could read on his Twitter: "Advertisement: The 2nd trailer for my (and Bill Wells') new album features sperm and a stripper!" Philosophy or self promotion, judge for yourself. But I guess it is interesting in some unexplainable way. Or maybe it is quite explainable. We'll see, next year.

New sports by Silver Columns

New Silver Columns video by Kieran Evans. Great fun!

Orange Juice - Rip It Up